lake cushman

The place is very lovely and provides an easy hike to a rain forest that is absolutely mesmerizing. One of the trails was quite gone (four steam trail) so make sure you don't get lost.Camping grounds are limited.

Lets get this straight. This is the review is for the lake and the state park. Not the Lake Cushman Resort that is a few miles away. I think other reviewers are combining the two. The state park is better in my opinion. It has nicer wooded campsites but no hookups. The park has amazing views of the lake and mountains. If you travel into the national park there are trails to climb the staircase. Swimming in the lake is really really cold. Not recommended unless its a hot day. Come here for a picnic or camping. Really is a great place.

The staff there was so welcoming, and helpful to show us around the park. The atmosphere was very clean, and it was all welcomed for family orientated function. Simply amazing..

Cold but beautiful. At the North end is Mount Elenor and Mount Washington. Great drive up the east side for twisty road but caution people live here.

Bring your lunch and get ready to enjoy the spectacular view of this lake!!! Yours are available as well!

This is a nice, easy hike around Lake Cushman. Around every corner is another beautiful view. The water is a little chilly for swimming, but what isn't around these parts? There are lots of flat rocks to spread out on and catch the sun.

However I wouldn't recommend hanging out on the docks for any length of time unless you want to party with some of the more colorful Washingtonians. The resort itself is pretty clean and well maintained. Great place to chill on the lake, take your kids out tubing and did I mention the scenic views? Beautiful!

Nice place to be but if you want to pack like you're going camping and then stay in a cabin, this is your place. I prefer not to have to pack all my dishes and cookware etc... I may as well save a few $20s and stay in a tent; my air mattress is more comfortable anyhow.

Awsome day tirp spot on the South East side of the Olympic mountains. Lake is beautiful.....offers great fishing, boating, swiming. If you like to hike, take a day hike up Mt. Elinore. Warm summer days at Lake Cushman are days well spent!

Area is good for getting away and relaxing. Have been picking mushrooms in that area for over 20 years. There have been bigfoot sighting about 10 miles from there.

Lake Cushman is a beautiful sidetrip off Highway 101 even though you can't see it too much through the trees and the houses in areas. About halfway up Highway 119 there is a viewpoint area if you can spot the little blue sign which is not easy to do. If you spot it, you can park in a big lot and see the lake and the valley pretty much to the end. Just beyond the end of Highway 119 and a dirt road, you end up at the Staircase area of Olympic National Park which is a fee area. The Staircase Rapid Loop Trail (not a loop anymore because the bridge over the river is totally gone) and the Shady Lane Trail are nice little walks through the woods and near the river. Both are less than 2 miles round trip. For the non-hikers, there is a picnic area by the river as well. Staircase is not as busy as some of the other areas of the park, so if you want quiet, it and Lake Cushman make for nice diversions off the beaten path.

Rode thru Lake Cushman area in August 2010 on our motorcycle ride around the Olympic Peninsula. I read alot about the area and when I heard they worlds largest Stika Spruce was in this forest I knew we would be stopping. My husband loves all kinds of trees and knows alot about them so he was in. I did read that you should bring raingear since it was a rain forest, but when we arrived it was 80 degrees and pretty darn hot. It was a beautiful ride thru the area and the lake was beautiful. Really nice ranger station with alot of info/maps of the area. The nice lady behind the desk gave us great directions to the giant tree. There are also some other really big trees in the area. The trail to the spruce tree was well marked and took about 5-10 minutes and a easy walk. We were wearing motorcycle gear and it still was a easy walk. Biggest spruce tree I have ever seen. What a monster. There is a campground night next to the tree and the lake. Boy if you camp stay at that campground its a beauty. Will go back again it was alot of fun, kinda hot for a rain forest..hahhahaha

Lake Cushman Resort is a world class dump. The staff is inhospitable upon check-in, not at all welcoming or gracious, taking care to point out curtly that there is a $100 fine for smoking. My friend and my husband and I had reserved mid-week for 2 nights in their largest room - a "2 bedroom" for $149. One look inside was all we needed: this was the darkest, grimest, smallest and dirtiest place I'd ever seen. None of the windows opened. There was only an old futon and a small table with chairs in the living room/dining area/kitchen. No TV, only a 13" DVD player that was perched up so high that I'd have to crane my neck to watch it. The "master bedroom" was a 7 foot high partitioned CUBICLE with a queen bed and less than a foot on each side of the bed. No side tables. No dresser. No closet. The 2nd bedroom was a cell with a bunk bed holding flimsy filthy mattresses that looked like they belonged in San Quentin. The top bunk was about 10 inches from the stained ceiling where a single bare bulb hung. No other light or table or closet in this claustrophobic "room". The carpeting was threadbare and stained throughout. The bathroom was tiny to say the least. After only a 10 minute look my friend said "I can't stay here!" and we agreed. The lakeside looked pretty shabby, too-and the dock was partially underwater! We asked the staff about changing rooms but this was the only room available for 3 people for 2 nights. They said "didn't they TELL you it was rustic?" but rustic doesn't mean dirty, dim, poorly equipped and stained...so we forfeited our $115 deposit. It was worth it to us NOT to have to stay in that place! At Lake Cushman Resort you also have to bring in all your own linens and kitchen supplies. We later investigated Glen Ayr Resort in Hoodsport, only a mile away: a 2 BR, 2 bath, fully equipped townhouse with cable TV, DVD, etc. across from the Hood Canal was the exact same price - and had a hot tub and community room on site. Warning: don't even THINK of staying at Lake Cushman Resort!

Overall, the lake is beautiful. The resort was horrible. Only one flushing toilet w/shower bathroom that was hit or miss on toilet paper and porta-potties that were not kept up and stunk so bad! There is no beach area for children to swim other than in the marina with boats coming in and out (not to mention the spilled gas from fill-ups). The resort rents every single little space available so there are people on people and no access to beach unless you rent a cabin on the lake. Everything was so dirty and loud music all the time!

We have a family cabin which is usually rented but we stayed at again this week and were again reminded the value of a good campfire, family time, smore's, excellent lake, and warm days and what they can do for your soul!Lake Cushman is excellent, very clean crisp water, and not too busy. I just don't get why kite boarding has not taken off here, there's always some wind and it always blows the same direction.